The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM) cannot run ads supporting New York GOP gubernatorial candidate
Carl Paladino without disclosing its donors, a judge ruled Monday,
New York's WIVB Channel 4 reported.

U.S. District Judge Richard Arcana
rejected NOM's request to run pro-Paladino ads without registering
with the state as a political committee, as required by New York law.
The exemption would free the group from adhering to election law
requirements governing political committees, including reporting
donors' names.

Arcana dismissed the challenge as
premature because officials have yet to classify the group as a
political committee. The organization said its lawsuit was an
attempt to head off such a classification.

NOM has filed similar lawsuits in
several other states, including Rhode Island and Florida.

NOM is currently running ads in support
of anti-gay marriage candidates or attacking pro-gay marriage
candidates in several states, including California, New Hampshire and
Minnesota.

Earlier this month, Paladino created
national headlines when he told a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders
that his opposition to gay marriage stems from not wanting children
“brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality” is acceptable and
hammered his Democratic rival, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for
taking his children to a gay pride parade, which Paladino called
“disgusting” and described as “extreme people in bikini outfits
grinding at each other and doing these gyrations.” Paladino
initially defended his remarks, but after an avalanche of criticism
from lawmakers, gay activists, and even his own party, he apologized,
saying he was sorry “for any comment that may have offended the gay
and lesbian community.” The apology cost the Tea Party favorite
the endorsement of the orthodox rabbi who introduced him to the
close-knit Jewish community.

Lawmakers in New York and Minnesota are
expected to consider legalizing gay marriage next year.

NOM played a critical role in reversing
gay marriage laws in California and Maine.